Chicken Salad Sandwiches

4 Cups of Cooked Chicken (2-3 breasts)

1 Cups of grapes, sliced in ½ or ¼

¾ c. Celery, Chopped

1-2 Green onions, sliced

½ c Mayonnaise

½ c Miracle Whip

Salt and Pepper to taste

*Optional add-ins: slivered almonds, cashews, dill weed, craisins

Mix all together.  Best if refrigerated several hours before serving.  I like to make it the night before.

Serve on a roll or a croissant.  Makes 6 Sandwiches

Food for Thought: We (Latter-Day Saints) believe that the ultimate treasures on earth and in heaven are our children and our posterity-Dallin H. Oaks

Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookies

¾ c. Butter softened

¾ c. Brown Sugar

1c. White Sugar

2 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

2 ½ c, Flour

½ tsp. Salt

1 tsp.  Baking Soda

2 c. Chocolate Covered Raisins

1 c. Pecans, Chopped

Cream butter and both sugars in a mixer; add in the eggs and the vanilla. Mix, do not over mix.  Next add in the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix until ingredients are combined, finally, fold in the chocolate covered raisins and pecans. 

Refrigerate for 1 hr.

Scoop out by the heaping tablespoon.  Roll into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet, parchment paper or a baking mat.  Bake 350 10-12 minutes or just until cookies are barely brown.  Let cool on cookie sheet 1-2 minutes. Then place on a cooling rack.

Balsamic Green Beans

I love fresh green beans and balsamic vinegar, so for me this is the perfect side dish

2 pounds fresh green beans

1 small onion, sliced

1 clove of garlic, minced

¾ cup chopped pecans (opt.)

2 tbls. olive oil

4 tbls. brown sugar

2 tbls. balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Blanch* green beans, until the turn a green.  While blanching green beans, sauté the onion, garlic and pecans in the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet.  When green beans are done blanching drain them really well and add them to the onion and garlic.  Add in the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook until they turn into a glaze, it will take about five minutes on medium heat.  Makes 6-8 servings.

* To blanch green beans, 2 quarts of water to a boil, then add in the green beans and cook until they are a bright green.

Food for Thought:

In all events, a mother can exert an influence unequaled by any other person in any other relationship. By the power of her example and teaching, her sons learn to respect womanhood and to incorporate discipline and high moral standards in their own lives. Her daughters learn to cultivate their own virtue and to stand up for what is right, again and again, however unpopular. A mother’s love and high expectations lead her children to act responsibly without excuses, to be serious about education and personal development, and to make ongoing contributions to the well-being of all around them. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once asked: “When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? –Elder D.Todd Christofferson, Oct.2014 conference

I love this quote!! I have had the great privilege to be a stay at home mom.  Some might not think that this is a privilege, but it is. 

When I was a young mom with young kids, there were days when I wondered why am I staying home with these kids, it’s a hard job with not much glory.  I would sometimes envy the working mom and wish for her life because I assumed that she was making a difference in the world.

 But I did make a difference and still do make a difference in the life of four great people and those friends that they bring home with them.  In a world that is changing every day, I make a difference with my constancy. I love them when they feel no one else does, I expect them to do their best, but realize they are still human and they will make mistakes, and give them hope when hard things come their way.

We as moms make a difference.  Have a Fabulous day and hug your kids whether they are small or teenagers (even they need a good hug).  And go forth and make a difference in their lives!!

Apple Oatmeal

I love oatmeal for breakfast, I usually make it just plain because that's what I have time for. But when there is time this is the oatmeal I like to make.  

2 ½ cups water

1/4 tsp. salt

1 ¼  cup quick oats

½ of an apple, peeled and chopped

1 tsp. vanilla

¾ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

2 Tbls. brown sugar

Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium sauce pan.  Add oats and chopped apple, then bring to a simmer and simmer 3-5 minutes or until the oatmeal has thickened.  Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir.  Makes 5 half cup servings

*My kids like to add in more brown sugar.  I usually pour milk over my oatmeal, unless I have vanilla creamer then  I treat myself to that.

Food for Thought:

Life has been weighing me down this week.  Every day I had a lot that I needed to accomplish and I have a lot to accomplish in the near future, and I might be at my breaking point.  Because of this I have had a heavy heart, a distracted mind and I have not been mentally with my family because I am worrying about the hundred things that are going to be coming at me.  Does anyone else feel this way? And honestly I didn’t know that this was how I felt until yesterday, I was in a Relief Society* Presidency meeting when my dear friend said our opening prayer and it went something like this, “Father we come to Thee burdened downed”.  Not until then did I realize that this is how I was feeling, and the tears flowed freely.  I finally recognized that I was feeling a heavy burden.

I came across two scriptures when was I looking for something else on lds.org this morning,

Mathew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Mosiah 24:15
And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

I had one of those ah-ha moments.  When I am burdened down with all that I have going in my life, why am I not asking Him to help carry my load? Why am I not following His council, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me?”  He promised me that He would give me peace.  Isn’t that what I needed this week?  I needed my burden lightened and I needed peace

I like the scripture in Mosiah because it gives me hope that if I will follow the council of the Lord that I too can be strengthened and will be able to bear my burden with ease.

New this Summer

New on my menu are these delightful mini strawberry shortcake cups.  They will be a hit this summer at your next event

If you are looking for something new this year to celebrate try these homemade soft pretzels.  This is going to me the new thing this year.

French Dip Sandwiches

2.5-3 pond Beef Roast

Salt and pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder or granulated

2   1 ounce packages dry onion soup mix

1 tbs. worcestershire sauce

2 cans beef broth

1 cup Water

6-8 large buns or 12 rolls (I prefer rolls)

Optional topping: Provolone cheese, swiss cheese or my favorite grilled sweet onions

Place roast in a crock pot.  Pour water, beef broth and Worcestershire sauce over the roast.  Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic and onion soup mix over the roast.  Cook on low 8-10 hour, or 4-6 hours on high until meat is easy to shred.

When roast is done, split your rolls in half and butter both sides of the bread and broil it until toasted. If you are serving with cheese you will want to top your buns with roast and then cheese and broil until cheese is melted. And top with onions if you like.

Ladle juice into small cups for dipping.

Food for Thought: "...Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee- Pres. Monson

Herb and Olive Oil

I had this once and a restaurant and couldn't stop eating it.  Then I dreamed of it for a couple of weeks until I found the perfect recipe. Here are two different recipes, they are both good

Fresh

1tbs. fresh basil, finely chopped

1tbs. fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped

1 tbs. fresh garlic, minced

1tsp.dried thyme

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. dried rosemary

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. red pepper flakes

1/8 tsp. lemon juice

Mix all together, and store in an airtight container.  This will last quite a while in the fridge.

 Dry

1 tsp of all of these.

Black pepper

Oregano

Rosemary

Basil

Granulated garlic

Mined garlic

Salt

Olive oil

¼ tsp. red pepper

Mix all together, and store in an airtight container.  This will last quite a while in the fridge.

I like to mix 1 batch of fresh to 2 batches of dry

To use: drizzle 2 tbs.  olive oil over 1 tsp. of seasoning on a small plate and dip slices of a baguette or french bread.

Use in garlic bread spread: 1tbs. season and 1 cube butter

Food for thought: In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy.-Pres. Uchtdorf